Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-31
BEAST, BIRD AND FISH.

The skin of the catfish is now tanned into
leather in Germany. 1t is tough, supple and
appears well.
Job Arden, Of Rock Greek, Ill, thought
the cushion in his chair seemed remarkably
soft. and he soon found out that he had SGT
down upon a moccasin snake He killed the
snake but not until it had bitten into his
buckskin breeches.
While fishing from a rowboat near Orange
city, Fla, Mr.. John Thursby tied his line to
the bow and laid down for a nap. When he
awoke he was three miles up stream and a big
catfish was Juggling away at the line for dear
life The fish weighed over twenty pounds.
Ia Italy turkeys are always fattened with
walnuts. Thirty days before the turkey is to
be killed one walnut is stuffed down his
throat. Each day he is given an additional
walnut, and on the twenty-ninth day he has
twenty-nine walnuts. He is then immensely
fat.
An able bodied fish or rather eel, story is
told by E. A. Pomroy of Jonesvile, Mich.
He says the cells get into the turbine wheel
at his mill i'll such great numbers that they
clog it up so that it stops He repeatedly
took two bushels of fragments of eels from
the wheel, and finally decided to nclose it
with wire netting
A small Scotch terrier dog in Little Rock
steals his way on the street cars regularly
four times a day, to and from his masters
place Of business. Whether bis master is
along or not he waits for the car at the cross
ing and hops on behind and alights with gen
tlemanly ease when it arrives in front of his
masters store or residence.
Leroy Brown, an elderly man, was playing
with pet kitten at his home near the rail.
road track in Homer, N. Y. one day recently
The kitten jumped from his arms and
ran across the track. Mr. Brown started in
pursuit, and was struck by an express train
and hurled fifty feet upon an emhankment
His neck was broken and he died almost in
stantly.
Old Dick, rebel war horse, died in Sep
TENDER last, aged So years. He was bought
in Cincinnati and brought to Ashtabua
county, Ohio by Lucius Thompson, and re-
manned with him fer twenty-five years. The
many scars he had on him showed that he
was bullet proof; even lightning struck him
about year ago, but he survived it and died
of old age.
A rare fish, the opah or kingffsh has been
caught off the Yorkshire coast The speci-
men measured four feet three inches in
length, and is said to be the most beautiful
in color and form of any fish that inhabts
the North sea. The body is bue ard black
bronze. studded with silver stars; the To; are
verm,iion, and the iris of the eyes white The
fish has been preserved aud aided to a collec-
ton of natural history specimens at Griulso
PERSONAL PlcXlNcs
Bret Harte has decided t. take up his abode
permanently ii a suburb If London.
Edwin Booth keeps up his habit Of smoking
from one TO two dozen cigars per day.
Emperor William has arrived at Berlin
from Baden Baden. He is enjoying good
health
Charles Dickens says that the pictures of
American life painted by his father have be-
come antiquated.
Wayne MacVeagh never talks politics and
invariably excuses himself on the ground that
be is devoting himself entirely to his law
practice.
Mr. Henry Irving is in favor of municipal
theatres. He declares it to be his belief that
well conducted theatre is as necessary as a
free library
Ex-Assstant Secretary of the Treasury
Charles E. Coon is in Europe engaged in
great financial transactions in which millions
are involved
The king of Corea furnished his winter
palace with SIS, 600 worth of American chairs.
beds and tables. He also bought an American
steamer for 81, 900
Col Thomas Porterhouse Ochiltree is will
ing to confess that he made money recently
In Wall street, but says the amount was not
$100,0o0, as reported.
Gen. Lew Wallace, while in Constantinople
became personal friend Of the present sui
tan, and communication between them has
been kept up ever since.
William Walter Phelps is as fond of arts
tic neckties as Gen. Hustled or the late Emery
Storrs, and he finds great delight in strolling
by the haberdashers' windows
The Duke and Duchess of Montrose, accom-
panied by the Dowager Duchess, known for
her devotion to the race course, started for
India at the close of the racing season in Eng
land